Connected Beginnings helps Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children prepare for school. The program contributes to objectives under Closing the Gap.
On this page:
About the program
Each year about $12 million is available to integrate early childhood, maternal and child health, and family support services with schools in selected communities.
By providing greater access to these services, we help Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children to be healthy, safe and ready to thrive at school.
Through the program we:
- provide outreach so more Indigenous families get involved in early childhood services
- bring early childhood and health services together to make them easier to access
- improve sharing of information so families only have to tell their story once.
Non-Indigenous families in identified communities may also benefit from the program.
Current projects
We identify communities who would benefit most from the program through consultation and data, such as Australian Early Development Census data.
We invite one organisation in each community to lead the program in that area.
The Connected Beginnings projects currently underway are:
| Location | Grant recipient | Backbone agency | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alice Springs NT | Northern Territory Department of Education | Braitling Primary School | |
| Tennant Creek NT | Northern Territory Department of Education | Tennant Creek Primary School | |
| Galiwin'ku NT | Shepherdson College NT | Shepherdson College | |
| Angurugu NT | Northern Territory Department of Education | Angurugu School | |
| Doomadgee QLD | Save the Children Australia | Dumaji Children and Family Centre | |
| Ceduna SA | South Australian Department for Education and Child Development | Ngura Yadurirn Children and Family Centre | |
| Port Augusta SA | Uniting Country SA Limited | Uniting Country SA Limited | |
| Mildura VIC | Mildura Primary School | Mildura Primary School | |
| Doonside NSW | Growing Potential Limited Trading as Children First | Ngallu Wal Aboriginal Child and Family Centre | |
| Mount Druitt NSW | Ngroo Education Incorporated | Ngroo Education | |
| Kalgoorlie WA | Wanslea Family Services Incorporated | Wanslea Family Services | |
| Bridgewater/Gagebrook TAS | Tasmanian Department of Education | Tagari Lia Child and Family Centre | |
| Taree NSW | NSW Department of Education | Taree Public School | |
| Derby WA | World Vision Australia | World Vision Australia | |
| Bourke NSW | Bourke & District Children’s Services | Bourke & District Children’s Services | |
| Roebourne WA | Department of Communities | Department of Communities | |
| Rasmussen QLD | Community Gro Incorporated | Community Gro |
More information
The Connected Beginnings Program Guidelines outline more information.
If you are successful applying for a grant, you must enter into a grant agreement. View a sample grant agreement.
The program is jointly funded by the Department of Education, Skills and Employment and the Department of Health. Visit the Department of Health website for more information.
If you have more questions about the program, email connectedbeginnings@dese.gov.au